Electric snap-switch.



H. HANSEN.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, I9I5- Patented May16, 1916.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

By. 2 [Z lr-q I I J IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII KIIIII H. HANSEN.

ELECTRIC SNAP swncu.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB, 1915- L1 83,377. Patented Mary 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lm/en for THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN ,CO., WASHINGTON, D- Cv l ens HERMAN HANSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR Tl!) FRANCIS KEIL 6c SON, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN HANsEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Snap-Switch, of which the following is a specification, the same being a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electric circuitchanging devices coming generally under the head of push button snap switches and designed for employment in the industrial application of electricity, as for example, in connection with electric lights and house wiring and for small power or heating purposes, etc., and in particular to certain special devices preferably used in a switching mechanism of the classnamedby which the contact terminals may be positively and quickly locked in electric engagement with the main line terminals, or else held locked in a position disengaged therefrom, the whole being of comparatively simple construction and operating with certainty and precision.

To attain the desired end, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and operation of parts herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one type of a switching mechanism in which the invention is embodied, in which the separate parts of the improvement are designated by suitable reference numerals in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on the line 4l-4 of Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a view in detail of the switch locking mechanism; Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional viewstaken on the line 02-00 Fig. 5, the said views illustrating the locking mechanism 'in the two stationary positions assumed by the same; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail views respectively of the rock yoke, the bridge piece and the detent; and Fig. 11 is a view in elevation showing the said three parts assembled in operative relation.

Referring particularly to the drawings, in

which the preferred style of an electric switching mechanism is shown, although, as stated, the invention may be used with other types of switches, whether snap or otherwise, 3 denotes a stationary bridge piece or bar having orifices through which work the push buttons 2, and also preferably having means for engagement with an electrically non-conducting porcelain or fireproof composition casing 1. The said bar 3 has depending extensions 4 at the extremities of which are formed shoulders 5, and it is also made with a slot 6 and with journals for a shaft 7 around which is coiled a spring 19. Rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft 7, at the exterior faces of the extensions l, is a U-shaped part or movable bridge piece 9, one of the side portions of the same, lying adjacent to the said extensions l being enlarged and made with shoulders 10 and 11 located at opposite sides of the part 9. The said enlarged portion of the part 9 also carries, at the front face thereof switching contact blades or terminals 12 which are attached to but preferably insulated from the side of the U-shaped piece 9 and are oscillated when the said part is moved.

A rocking yoke, preferably made in two parts, 13, 14:, and having the median portion of each part lying adjacent to the inner faces of an extension 4:, works loose on the shaft 7, to the respective ends of which yoke are pivoted the extensions 8 of the push buttons 2. The part 13 of the yoke is made with two pins 21 and 22 which work in a circular groove 23 of the detent 1'7 which lies adjacent to the said part, the said groove being formed with a median V-shaped portion 24; located at the highest portion thereof. The said detent also has a central oblong opening larger than the shaft 7 and preferably com prising an elongated groove 25 encircling the shaft 7 and the detent is also made with a peripheral flange 27 projecting therefrom to form a stop, which flange works in the slot 6.

Each part 13, ll has an car, as 15 and 16, which ears extend inwardly or toward each other. The ends of the spring 19, which tend to approach one another and to normallylie near each other, lie respectively against one car 15 lying in the same plane and also against one edge of the cross bar of the part 9, and at the other side of the switch against the opposite edges of the other car 16 and cross bar of the part 9.

The operation of parts is as follows, the same being in the positions shown in Figs. 1 to 1, where the circuit is illustrated as being closed: By gradually pushing the raised button 2 in a downward direction, in order to open the circuit, the extension 8 thereof forces the left hand end of the rock yoke 13, 14 downwardly and the car 16 of the part 1 1, which was previously in alinement with the horizontal portion of the bridge piece 9 (as shown in Fig. 3) will move one end of the spring 19 toward the right, thereby increasing the tension of the same, the other end of the spring being prevented from moving, with its ear 15, by being held immovable by resting against the opposite edge of the opposite end of the horizontal portion of the bridge 9 which latter still rests against the left hand shoulclers of the depending extension 4:, the ends of the spring being on opposite sides of their adjacent ear 15 and of the horizontal part of the element 9. Upon the said depression of the button, the rock yoke 13, 14 is gradually swung around, together with the ear 16, thus carrying one end of the spring 19 to the right hand and consequently putting it under tension, which movement causes the pin 21 to travel from the position shown in Fig. 4 downwardly in the groove 23 and the pin 22 to move upwardly 1n the same until the pin 22 rests upon the right hand upper part of the V-shaped top portion of the groove, the pin 21 being near the bottom of the slot 23 as shown in Fig. 10. The continued pressure of the button now causes the engagement of the pin 22 and the point 28 of the V-shaped groove to force the detent 17 upwardly, the said point 28 impinging against and riding along the said pin as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 11. This movement results in the passing of the pin 21 to the bottom of the said groove 23, as shown in dotted lines of the said figure. The detent 17, and consequently the stop flange 27, will now be forced to rise to its maximum upward movement, as indicated by the dotted lines in the said figure, and thus allow it to pass by the shoulder 10 of the bridge piece 9. The latter is thereby unlocked and is impelled in a left hand direction, by the end of the spring 19 which rests against the cross bar of the bridge piece 9, from the left hand shoulder 5 of the extension 4 until it reaches the right hand shoulder 5 of the said extension, at which time the said end of the spring becomes engaged with the ear 15 of the rock yoke. The said downward movement of the button causes the car 16 to pass slightly beyond the cross bar of the bridge piece 9, and upon releasing the pressure on the said button the tension of the spring carries the ear 16 somewhat backward until further retrograde movement of the bridge piece is stopped by the impingement of the end of the spring 19 against the cross bar of the part 9. This retrograde movement allows the pin 22 to ride along the point 28 of the V-shape groove 23-with a slightly rearward movement to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 11, thereby moving the vertically acting detent 17 and its stop flange 27 a short distance in a downward direction whereby it is allowed to rest against the right hand shoulder 11 of the bridge piece 9 and thus lock the parts as shown in Fig. 5, the contact members or terminals being now disengagedfrom the main line terminals 20. When the newly raised button is now again depressed, the parts are moved in the opposite directions to those already described, whereupon the members of the switch Will assume and become locked in their original positions as illustrated in Fig. 1, and consequently the contact members or terminals will now become once more electrically connected with the main line terminals.

Although the invention is described as applicable primarily to one type of switching mechanisms, yet, obviously, the same may be used in connection with a great variety of instruments where it is desired to secure a simple, positive and eflicient circuit-changing device.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an article of the class described, a support, a main line terminal, a contact member, a rock device to control the contact member and made with projecting pins, a manually actuated device to operate the rock device, a vertically movable detent formed with a circular groove having a median V-shaped portion, and constructed and arranged to be raised and lowered by the engagement of the pins of the rock device with the groove of the detent, to alternately release the detent and engage the same with the said support, and the contact member with the line terminal.

2. In an article of the class described, a contact member, a main line terminal, a rock device to control the contact member and having ears and also pins, two ush buttons respectively attached to the en s of the rock device, a shaft, a shouldered holder having journals for the shaft, a shouldered pivoted bridge piece carrying the contact member, a spring coiled around the shaft the ends of which spring normally rest on opposite sides of the said ears and of the bridge piece, a vertically movable detent formed with a circular groove having a median V-shaped tion I do hereby sign the same in the city portion and constructed and arranged to be of New York, county of Bronx, and State of in raised and lowered by the enkgagement of New York, this 26th day of June, 1915. t e pins with the groove of t e etent, to 5 alternately release and engage the shoulder HERMAN HANSEN of the bridge piece, and the contact member Witnesses: with the line terminal. HENRY F. 181111,,

In testimony of the foregoing specifica- F. A. WURZBACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Wometfloner of mtenta Wnehington, JD. G." 

